Mail-bag catcher and deliverer



Nov. 13., 1923.,

H. F. ANDERSON MAIL BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER v:a sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nv. 2s, 1921 @that "cq Yzo iiniescHEL rnlvnnnsoiv,

OF HUNTSVILLE. ILLNOIS.

MAL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Application filed November To .all @07mm t may coment.'

Be it knownl that I, Hinzscrrnn F; ANDER# SON, acitizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Huntsville, in the county of Schuyler and State ot illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Maihlag Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a'specilication.

rlhis-invention relates to improvements in mail bag catchers and deliverers and the primary object of the invention is to produce a novel and improved device i401' simultaneously transferring mail saclrs or pouches from a moving car to a platform. Y

One of the ob] provision of a'inail sack transferring apparatus adapted to be adjustably mounted on a platform whereby mail sacks may be simultaneously delivered and received by a moving car when passing said platform in either ot two directions.

A further and very important `object of the invention is the construction of a mail bag catcher and deliverer which shall insure positive delivery and catching of a mail bag or pouch while the car is moving at a comparatively high rate oit speed, the portion of the device carried by the `car being adapted for swinging movement within easy reach through the door, where y the bag may be removed.V y

Another and very important object of the invention is the provision of a railway mail transferring apparatus or device adapted for installation on any type of railway mail car,

i the device being extremely simple in construction, easily assembled, rigid and durable, highly elicient in operation, practical Vand capable of being manufactured at a very low cost, whereby its commercial possibilities are greatly enhanced. f

The invention will be best understood .from a consideration of the following detailed description talren in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part i of this speciiication, with the understanding,

however, that the invention is notcontined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modilied so long as such changes and modifications marl; no material departure from the sali'- ent: features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.V

I attain these'objects and others in the accompanying drawings, wherein: .Figure 1 is a fragmentary planview of a ects or' the invention is the.

26, 1921. Serial No. 517,960.

mail car showing the mail pouch delivering device attached to the door thereof.

Figure 2 is a iront'view showing the apparatus or device mounted on a portion of the car door and its relation with the supporting members mounted on thostationary platform.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view through one of the supporting members at# tached to the platform showing the manner of supporting the bag or pouch.

Figure fl is an enlarged, detail view of one ofthe devices mounted on a car door.

Referring-.now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates a portion of a car door or" a car 5 and 6, 7, a pair of stationary supporting members on said door, adapted to receive and deliver a mail bag or pouch to a moving train or car in the manner now to be set -torth more specically-by reference to Fig'- ure 2 of the drawings.

Each supporting member 6, 7, comprises a block, provided with a cutout or recess 8 therein to receive a vertical spindle 9, about which a swinging supporting arm 10 is mounted for movement on a substantiall;Y curved brace 11 disposed centrally oi said spindle and within the cutout portion S ot' the block. The said supporting arm lOis provided with a spring hook 12 on its outer e3;- tremity whereby a supporting ring may be placed to which the mail bag or pouch may be attached in the manner fiuther to be set forth. The structure oi' the blocks or supporting members 6 and 'T is identical, with the exception that the curved brace 11 oi." the block 6 is provided with a spring clip or clamp 13 oppositely disposed with respect to a spring clip or clamp lfl on the block 7, whereby the respective arms 10 of the supporting members may be disposed in dill'erent positions and outwardly ci the respective blocks to deliver and receive a mail bag or pouch from a moving train or railroad car as now to be set forth. Secured to any suitable platform 15 l have provided pair orn supporting posts or members 16, 1i' in spaced relation, each of which is provided with a substantially 'l"-slia 3ed slot 18, throughout its length to permitoi" the vertical adjustment of the attaching and delivering device for the car. The said device oneach supporting member 16, 17 comprises a block 20, similar to the snpporting blocks 6, 7 above referred to, the said block in cach instance also being provided with a recessed central portion 21, having a spindle 22 on which a supporting arm 23 is mounted for swinging movement on a curved brace 2li, said brace also being provided with a spring clip 25 thereon for retaining the arm 23 in position. A similar spring clip 26 on the end of the supporting arm 23 is adapted to receive the supporting ring 27, which is formed with a loop 28 and attached to a mail bag or pouch 29,

.whereby the same may be transferred to and from the platform on the respective supporting arms, above described. In order to effect the vertical adjustment of the block 20 on the c-ar,'I have provided-said blocks with threaded bolts 30, said bolts being slidable in the f-shaped groove or recess 1S and held in clamping relation by 4the nuts 31, passing through that portion of .the blocks above the recess 21 as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawings.

VIt will be observed also that the spring clips y25 on the curved brace members 24 are also oppositely disposed, corresponding to the position of the said clips 13, 1i, on the supporting blocks 6, 7, above referred to.

It will be observed that the car door shown is provided with a set of supporting blocks 6 7, on each side of the same whereby the arms may be swung outward on either side of the door to engage a moving car on the tracks from either side` The structure is such that by vertically adjusting the blocks 20 on the platform the same may simultaneously transfer mail bag or pouches to the car when moving in either direction.

In order to show the operation of the device more clearly, reference is again hadV to Figure 2of the drawing. In the position of the blocks as shown, assuming that the car is travelling in the direction indicated by the arrow, it will be observed that the arm 10, which is above the arm 23 of the supportingmember 16, butibelow the arm 23 of the supporting member 17, may safely pass over the first mentioned supporting arm 23, by reasonV of Vsufficient clearance, and will engage a ring 27 supported on the end of the arm 23 of the 'supporting member 17. In a similar manner the arm 23 of the supporting member 16 is positioned below the supporting arm 10 of the block :6 and will consequently encrage a ring mounted ou thel supporting arm 10,` as the train or car passes by the platform. 0n the other hand, assuming that the car is travelling in the reverse Vdirectiomby simply reversing the position of the supporting blocks 20 on the members 16, 17, the same operation will take place and the mail bags may be simultaneously transferred from the platformto the car in the mannergabove described. The swinging movement of the supporting' arm 28 is such that the same may beswung within easy reach of the mail clerk and the bag without departing from the spirit and scope f of the invention. It is furthermorevunderstood that the invention is Vnot necessarily limited or restricted to the precise elements shown except in so far as such limitations are specifiedin the subject matter being claimed.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention,.what Il claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. A mail bag catcher land deliver'er, in combination with a stationary platform and mail car, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed mail bag supporting armsswingingly supported on the car, vertically adjustable spaced' blocks having swinging' arms attached to the platform, said last mentioned arms adapted for movement outwardly of the platform and above or below the car supported mail bag'supporting arms, whereby mail bags may be simultaneously delivered from one pair of arms to the other when the car is moving in either direction.

2. A mail bag catcher and deliverer, in combination with a stationary platform and mail car, comprising a pair of blocks and outwardly swinging mail bag supporting arms carried thereby on said car, a second pair of blocks and mail bag supporting arms vertically adjustable with respect to the platform whereby the position thereof in a horizontal plane can be varied, each of said blocks having a central recess 4and a spindle secured therein, a curved brace supporting member within the recess for supporting the arms, spring clips on said brace mem bers for Vholding the pairs of `supporting arms in oppositelydisp'osed positions, whereby the mail bags may lbe simultaneously transferred from one .pair ofarms to* the other when theV car is moving in either direction. Y y

`3.1i mail bag catcher and deliverer in. combination with'a stationary platform and mail car, comprising a pair of' recessed blocks and outwardly's'winging a'rnis'fcar#A ried thereby,` spring clips on thefendsofllsaid arms and a mail bag 'sup ortin'g V'fringadapted to be held by -said c ips, asec`o'nd` pair of recessed blocks-having:similar supporting arms and' clips thereon -independ ently adjustable von the' 4platform `whereby l0 the standard, headed bolts carried 1,474 iol either of said last mentioned arms may be raised or lowered to cooperate with the rst mentioned arms to simultaneously transfer mail begs from one pair of arms to the other when the ear is moving in either direction.

4. In a mail bag 'catcher and deliverer, a vertically disposed supporting standard having a longitudinaliy extending 'U-shaped slot therein, a block siidably mounted upon by the block having the heads thereof mounted in the Twshaped slot, and a swinging arm earried by the block.

In testimony whereof I e'liiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HERSGHEL F. ANDERSON.

Witnesses LESTER F. STONE, H. D. SIMS. 

